Door lock



Aug. 5, 1958 J. H. ROETHEL 2,846,256

DOOR LOCK Filed July 27, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 5, 1958 .1. H. ROETHEL DOOR LOCK lFiled July 27, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 5, 1958 J. H. ROETHEL DOOR LOCK Filed- July 27, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. os THEL ATTORNEY United States Patent() DOOR LOCK Application July 27, 1953, Serial No. 370,494

13 Claims. (Cl. 292-280) This invention relates to latch mechanism for swinging doors, especially the doors of automobile or other vehicle bodies, an object of the present invention being to provide an improved door latch mechanism which will effectively meet various requirements for motor vehicle door locks yet which is characterized by simpliication and compactness in construction and which is relatively small, easy and economical to manufacture, comparatively quiet in operation, ecient and durable muse.

The present invention is embodied in an improved door latch mechanism comprising a rotatable latch device, such as a rotary gear-type bolt, mounted on one side of the latch support, a pivoted detent or dog means cooperable therewith mounted on the same side of the latch support, improved outer and inner manually operable actuating means for swinging or pivotally actuating the detent or dog means to ydisengage the same from said latch device, and improved control means for selectively controlling the effectiveness of the actuating means in the actuation thereby 4of the detent or dog means, the operative elements of said actuating means and the control means being associated with a side of the latch support angularly related to said one side.

More particularly the present invention is embodied in an improved door latch mechanism comprising a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device, such as a gear type bolt and ratchet means, mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, said detent means having an arm extending toward said other plate portion of the support, outer manually -operable means for pivotally actuating said detent means to disengage the same from said latch device and including a slidable member movably disposed in a detent actuating position. In the illustrated construction the slidable member is mounted on a carrier pivotally mounted on said other plate portion and constructed to provide for slidable movement of said slidable member relative thereto. There is also provided an inner manually operable means including a pivoted member on said other plate portion connected to said slidable member to swing the same from said detent actuating position to a second position in which position said outer manually `operable means is ineiective to actuate said detent means, and a second pivoted member on said other plate portion having a part engageable by said detent arm and adapted to be swung thereby upon rotative movement of said latch device, such as occurs upon the latch bolt engaging the striker or keeper as the door is moved from an open to a closed position, said second pivoted member having a part disposed in position to swing said slidable member from said second position to said detent actuating position upon said rotative movement of the latch device.

Further objects and features of the particular embodiments of the invention herein illustrated will appear in the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of an automobile body provided with swinging doors upon which latch devices made in accordance with the present invention are installed.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken substantially through lines 2 2 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is an elevation looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially through lines 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating certain of the parts in a different operative relationship.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation in part similar to Fig. 3 illustrating a secondembodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation illustrating the rotary latch bolt and striker or keeper in their relative positions when the door is fully closed.

Fig. 8 is a view in part similar to Fig. 3 illustrating a further embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is an elevation looking in the direction of the arrows 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. l0 is a section taken substantially through line 10-10 of Fig. l0 looking in the direction of the arrows.

This application is a continuation in part of applica` tion Serial No; 286,487, led May 7, 1952, now abandoned.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangements of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings there is illustrated, by way of example, particular embodiments of the present invention as applied to the doors and frame structures of an automobile. The latch device in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive comprises a case plate 10 provided with screw bosses 10a by means of which the case plate is secured tothe inner side of the jamb portion of a vehicle door. The case plate 10 terminates at its inner edge in a ange 11 provided with screw bosses 11a by means of which the llange is adapted to be secured to the inner panel of the door. The latch device is preferably provided with a rotatable toothed latch or bolt 12 positioned at the outer face of the case plate 10, this latch or bolt having an integral projecting shaft or shank 13 extending through an aperture in the case plate, the edge of the aperture being suitably formed to provide a bearing for the bolt shank. The inner end of the shank 13 is flattened and extended through a correspondingly shaped aperture in a rotatable toothed detent engaging member or ratchet member 14 and is riveted thereto.

The rotatable latch, as best viewed in Fig. 7, is formed with a number of radially projecting tooth-like projections 12a, preferably five, which are spaced equally around the periphery of the latch so as to provide in eiect a gear type latch or bolt. The ratchet member 14 is also formed around its periphery with a number of tooth-like abutments or projections 14a which correlziatented Ang. 5, 1958 3 spond in number to the tooth-like projections 12a of th bolt.

Pivotally mounted on a shoulder rivet 15 secured to the case plate is a swinging detent, pawl or dog 16. The detent, pawl or dog 16 is pivotally mounted on the stud or rivet near the outer edge of the plate 1li and extends in a substantially horizontal direction toward the flange 11, the end 17 of the detent projecting through an aperture 18 in the flange 11 for a short distance therebeyond.' The detent 16 has a downwardly extending arm or projection 19 cooperable with the teeth or projections 14a of the ratchet member 14. This detent arm or projection 19 is engageable with any one ofthe teeth 14a in the manner shown in Fig. 2 to hold the ratchet member and, hence, the bolt 12 in locking position against. rotation in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. The detent 16 is adapted to 'be swung upwardly by. mechanism, hereinafter described, actuable by outside and inside operators, also hereinafter described, so as-to raise the detent arm -or projection 19 out of engagement with any one of the ratchet teeth 14a. It willbe understood that when the door is moved from an open to aclosed position, the bolt 12 is rotated by engagerne'ncwitht its striker or keeper in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. The configuration of the ratchet teeth 14a is such that the pivoted detent 16 is unable to restrain rotation thereof in a clockwise direction but instead theY detent is pivotally actuated upwardly in a disengaging direction of movement.

vAssociated with the detent 16 is a multi-armed actuating lever, generally designated 2t), which is pivoted upon a shoulder rivet 21v secured to the case plate angell. An arm 22 of the multi-armed actuating lever 20V extends from thepivot axis thereof toward the caseplate 10 and has an interlocking connection with the end 17 of the detent16 so that the actuating member 20 and the detent 16.are` operatively associated with each other, each being responsive to movement of the other.

It'is preferable:that the. detent 16 be spring urged into engagement with the ratchet 14 to ensure that the two are properly meshed after each disengagement of the detentv from the ratchet. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention this is accomplished through the medium of a coil spring 23'anch'ored at its inner end to a retainer 24 lanced out of the case plate flange 11. This-spring 23 has a horizontally. extending arm 25 engageable with the lower edge of an arm 26 of the multi-armed actuating lever .20. The springiarm25 tends to urge the arm 26 upwardly and the actuating member 20 in a counterclockwise direction asviewed in Fig. 3. The resulting downward urging of the arm22 results, due to the interlocking connection between the arm22 and the detent 16, in the detent arm or projection 19 beingryieldingly urged toward the ratchet 14.

In accordance with the present-embodiment ofthe invention means operable from the outside of the door is provided for pivotally actuatingthe multi-armed actuating lever 20 to swing the same in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 and thereby cause the arm 22 to swing the detent 16 upwardly out of engagement with the ratchet14. Referring to Fig. 4a kfragmentary portion of a shaft 27 is shown. The shaft'27 is preferably associated with a push button Z8 slidably mounted in the outside door handle 29 (Fig. l) and is bodily shiftable therewith in a longitudinal direction. Motion from the push button 28 and the shaft 27 is` transmitted to the detent 16 through the medium of. a `transmitting or detent actuating member 30 which is pivotally supported or mounted in such a manner that it may be swunginto or out of operative association with an upwardlyv eX- tending arm 31 of the actuating member 20. Referring Y to Figs. 3 and 4, a carrier member 32 having sidefflangesi rivet 34. A bell crank lever is pivotally mounted at` 'one end of the carrier member 32 on a shaft 36 jour- -nalled in the flanges 33 of the carriermember:

The bell crank lever 35 which is substantially equal in thickness to the distance between the carrier flanges 33 is provided on one leg thereof with a ange 37 adapted to remain in contact with the adjacent end of the shaft 27 Within the range of swinging movement of the carrier. The other leg of the bell crank 35 is bifurcated, the bifurcated portion 38 journalling a shaft 39 which extends beyond the edges thereof. The transmitting or detent actuating member 30 is'also provided with side anges 40 extending partially lengthwise thereof. The outer ends of the shaft 39 are journalled in the transmitting or detent actuating member flanges 40' at the outer end thereof, thereby pivotally connecting the transmitting or detent actuating member 30 to the bell crank lever 35. From the foregoing it will be apparent that when the push button 27 is shifted in the direction of the arrow,l see Fig. 4, the' bell crank lever 35 will be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction causing the transmitting ordetent actuating member 30 to be shifted longitudinally relative to the carrier 32 in the direction of the actuating'member arm 31. A suitable coil spring 41 is wound about the pin or shaft 39 and has one end thereof in contactwith the leg 37 ofthe bell crank 35 and the other end thereof engaging the base portion of the transmitting member 30, the spring l1A yieldingly urging the transmitting member and bell crank lever toward normal inoperative position.

lThe carrier member 30 is provided with an extending portiondZ which projects through an aperture 43 in a flange 44` ofthe actuating membery arm 31. The transmitting member 30 is provided'with a projection or abutment'45f adapted to engage or abut the section 46 of the flange: 144A when the carrier member 32 and transmitting or detentactuating member 3lare in the position shown inFigfB. When the carrier member 32 and transmitting or detent actuating member 30 are in the position shownin Fig. 5, the projection or abutment 44 is adapted to pass unhindered through the aperture 43. The detent actuating member 30 will be unable to cause pivotal movement of the actuating member 20 and thereforeno disengagement of the detent 16 will occur.

Thepresent latch device is preferably operated from the'insideof the door through the medium of a remote control mechanism (not shown) adapted to pivotally actuate a lever 47; This lever is pivoted on the shank of a shoulder rivet 4S secured to the case plate llange 11; Referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the actuating lever`20 has an upwardly extending arm 49. The lever 47 is provided with a lug' or projection 50 adapted to abut the arm 49 upon swinging movement of the lever 47- in a counterclockwise direction, thereby swinging the actuating lever Ztl-and the arm 22 in a clockwise direction of movement resulting in the detent 16 being lifted out ofengagement with the ratchet 14;

Reference has been made to the construction and arrangement of the transmitting or detent actuating member 30 andthe carrier memberi whereby the transmitting or detent actuating member may be swung to place the projection or abutment 45 thereon into and out of iabuttingrelation* tothe ange section 46 on the actuatingA member arm 31. In accordance with the present embodiment of the invention means operable from the inside and outside of the door are'provided for pivotally swinging the transmitting or detent actuating member 30Iinto and out of operative'relaticn to the actuating lever arm 31, this being accomplished in the present instance. by swinging the carrierl member 32 about its pivot 34.' The means operable from the inside of the door for swinging the transmitting member or detent actuating member 30 and carrier member 32 about the pivot axis 34-icomprises a lever 51 pivotally mounted 0n the same stud .21! which pivotally secures the actuating'memberlf'tofthe flange-,11. The lever 21 has an up- Wardly projecting arm S2 provided with a ange 53 thereon. The ange 53 is provided with an aperture 54 through which the extension 42 of the carrier member 30 extends. A vertically shiftable rod or plunger 55 is pivotally connected at 56 to the Iarm 52 of lever 51. The rod S extends upwardly through the garnish molding at the inner side of the glass panel of the door and carries at its upper end a knob 57. The knob 57 may be manipulated at the inside of the door to shift Ithe rod 55 vertically in either direction, thereby rocking the lever 52 and causing the carrier member 30, because of the interlocked relation -between the extension 42 thereof and the ange 53 of the lever 52, to be swung from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 5 and vice versa. By thus swinging the carrier member 30 through the medium of the lever S2 the transmitting or detent actuating member 3@ will be correspondingly swung from its position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5 and vice versa. The carrier member 32 is yieldingly held in either of its positions shown in Figs. 3 and 5 by means of a snap-over spring 58 of suitable strength attached at one end to an eX- tension S9 of the carrier member 32 and at its opposite end to the case plate `flange 11. When the transmitting or detent actuating member 30 and carrier member 32 are swung to the position shown in Fig. 5, the limit of this swinging motion is governed by the length of the aperture 43 in the flange 44 of the actuating member arm 31.

The front doors of vehicles are generally equipped with key operated devices operable from the outside of the vehicle for placing the lock mechanism in locked condition. The shaft 27 is adapted to be turned by such a key operated device and, as best viewed in Fig. 5, the end thereof is received in a rect-angular aperture 60 in a cam member 61 pivotally mounted on the flange 11. The cam member 61 is provided with a substantially vlV-'shaped recess 62 in one side thereof adapted to receive a lug or tongue 63 on the adjacent end of the carrier member 32. It will be noted that the width of the recess 62 is Substantially greater than the Width of the tongue or lug 63 in order to provide Ia lost motion connection. The lost motion connection is necessary in order to permit the key of the key operated device to be returned to a vertical position for withdrawal from the device after having been used to turn the shaft 27.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of means for utilizing pivotal movement of the actuating member to restore the transmitting member from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the Fig. 3. It will be noted that the actuating member 2i) may be pivotally actuated in either one of two ways regardless of the operativeness or effectiveness of the outer manually operable means to do so. The actuating member 20, in the present embodiment, is at all times responsive to swinging movement of the lever 47 actuable through manipulation of the inside door handle. In addition, the actuating member 20 is responsive to pivotal movement of the detent means 16 resulting from rotation of the latch bolt as it engages the striker or keeper.

In the p-resent embodiment, the transmitting member 30 is provided with a lug 64 turned downwardly toward the ange 11. When the transmitting member 30 is in the position shown in Fig. 5, the lug thereon lies in the path of swinging movement of the rounded end 65 of the actuating lever arm 49 and upon pivotal movement of the actuating lever 20 in a clockwise direction, the end 65 will abut the lug 64 and urge the transmitting or detent actuating member 30 and its carrier member 32 from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 3.

However, on occasion it is convenient to be able to `open the vehicle door, then to depress the push button 57 to place the lock mechanism in locked condition and then to close the door without having the lock mecha-V nism restored to unlocked condition, i. e., without having the transmitting or detent actuating member ree. stored from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 3. In the present embodiment, it is only necessary during the closing movement of the door that the push button be held inwardly thus causing the transmitting member 30 to be `shifted longitudinally and the flug 64 to be displaced out of the path of swinging movement of the rounded end 65 of the actuating member arm 49. With the lug y64 so displaced, no restoring movement of the transmitting or detent actuating member 30 will occur.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 6 illustrates a preferred construction for adapting the lock structure shown in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5 for use on vehicle doors, usually the -rear doors, not equipped with key actuated means for locking the door,l the locking of the door being accomplished solely through manipulation of the garnish molding push button 57. In the present embodiment such manipulation of the push button is adapted to render not only the outside operator or push button 28 ineffective to cause disengagement of the detent means 16 from the ratchet 14 but also simultaneously to render the inside operator ineffective toy do so. It will be remembered in the previous embodi ment lthat the actuating lever 20 was at all times responsive to pivotal movement of the lever 47. Accordingly, in the present embodiment the lever 47 is provided with an upstanding lug 66 and the lever 5l swingable by manipulation of the push button 57 is provided with an additional arm 67. Thus, when the lever 51 is swung in a clockwise direction, as 'viewed in Fig. 6, to place the transmitting or detent actuating member 30 in inoperative position relative to the actuating member Iarm 31, the arm 67 thereof will be swung into abutting position relative to the lugs 66 on the lever 47, thereby blocking the swinging movement of the same necessary to cause detent disengaging movement of the actuating lever Ztl. Thus, with the lever 51 in a position correspondingto the position in `which it is shown in Fig. 5, the door can Vonly be unlocked by shifting the rod or plunger 55 upwardly so as to restore the lever 51 to its position shown in Fig. 6.

It will be noted that in the present embodiment the actuating member arm 49 does not have the rounded end 65 thereon. The eliminaton of the rounded end 65 of the arm 49 provides an arrangement wherein the parts of the lock mechanism may be placed in locked condition when the door is open and the door may be closed without the necessity of depressing the outside .operator to prevent restoration of the lock mechanism parts to unlocked position. it will be apparent that there is no particular need for such a restoration structure on the rear doors of the vehicle in the absence of any key operated means for locking such doors.

There is illustrated in Figs. 8 to l0 inclusive a preferred construction of the lock embodying the present invention for use with a door arrangement wherein the key locking cylinder mechanism is mounted on the door panel in spaced relation to the doo-r handle. In this embodiment the lever 5l is provided with an arm 81. This arm 81 extends toward the left hand corner of the ange il, as viewed in Fig. 8, and is provided with a bifurcated portion 81a on the end thereof. within the bifurcated portion 81a is an upturned lug S2 on the upper end of a crank arm 83 pivoted at its lower end to the plate 1l on a tubular pivot stud 84, the pivot stud being provided with a rectangular opening `or socket to receive the key actuated shaft which is -connected to the cylinder mechanism of any conventional lock having the usual key control. By turning the key in the lock in the outside of the door the crank arm S3 may be swung to rock the lever 51 in either directitm..`

Slidable to thereby renderA the actuating member 30 operative or inoperative todisengage the detent from the latch device.

In the. present embodiments of` the invention the rotary` toothed latch -or bolt 12 is actuated when the door is closed by means of a striker or keeper member 68. In general, the keeper or striker comprises a C-shapcd structure having upper and lower body portions 69 and '70.k The lower body portion 70 is formed at its lower edge with two integral depending tooth-like projections 71 and 72 with which the teeth 12aV of the latch bolt 12 mesh to hold the door ineither nal or safety locking position. When anY adjacent pair of teeth 12a embrace and engage the tooth 72 the bolt is in safety lockingposition, and. when an adjacentpair of teeth 12a embrace the tooth 7l, as shown in Fig. 7, the bolt ini-in final locking-position.V

The upper surface-73 of the` lower body portion '70 forms an inclined ramp engageable by a suitably contoured dovetail or abutment 7d. fastened to the outer face of the case plate 1G.y A yieldable wedging means` is carried on the underside ,of the upper body portion 69 of the striker device and engages the upper surface of the dovetail or abutment 74 to rmly hold the door against vibratory movement in a vertical plane. The Wedging means in the present instance comprises a wedge block 75 controlled by a compression spring 76, the wedge block and spring being slidably retained within a recess 77 by means of a guide rod 78 fastened to the end walls of the recess 77. The spring 76 is mounted under initial compression and constantly urges the wedge outwardly or to the right as viewed in Fig. 7. During closing movement of the door the wedge block 75 is engaged by the upper surface of the dovetail and is carried inwardly to some extent against the action of the spring. As the vehicle body vibrates during vehicular motion, the wedge block will constantly tend to tighten itself against the upper surface of the abutment 7 4 and, hence, maintain the bolt 12 firmly in engagement with the tooth 71 on the striker thus minimizing the possible vibratory movement of the door in a vertical direction.

The lock mechanism construction and arrangement embodied in the present invention has an important advantage in that the mechanism is virtually tamperY proof. When the lock is mounted within the vehicle door the mechanism mounted on the flange 11 thereof is concealed between theI inner door panel and flange 11 and the flange in turnis between the inner door panel and the window glass. Thus, it is virtually impossible to trip any part of the latch mechanism on the flange by working a wire or other tool down the window well for such purpose, a customary practice of persons seeking to break and enter into a vehicle. The mechanism on the case plate portion, such as the detent 16, is effectively shielded against such tactics by means of a simple cover plate '79 securely spot Welded to the plate and covering most of the detent 16 and the ratchet 14.

I claim:

l. ln a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means -pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holdingthe same in door latching position, said detent means having a projecting arm, means for pivotally actuating said detent means to disengage the same from said latch device and including a slidable member normally disposed in a detent actuating position, mounting means for said slidable member pivotally mounted on said other plate portion and constructed to provide for slid# able movement of said slidable member relative thereto, a pivoted member on said other plate portion having a part disposed in opposing relation to a part of said slidable member when the latter is in said detent actuating position, said pivoted member having a second part connected to said detent arm, and outer manually operable means for shifting said slidable member to cause said parts to abut and thereby cause said second part to swing said detent arm and pivotally actuate the detent means `to disengage the same from said latch device, and inner manually operable means including a second pivoted member on said other plate portion connected to said slidable member mounting means to swing the same to move said slidable member from said detent actuating position to a second position in which said parts are disposed out of opposing relation.

2. Inl a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, said detent means having a projecting arm, means for pivotally actuating said detent means to disengage the same from said latch device and including a slidable member normally disposed in a detent actuating position, mountingy means for said slidable/ member pivotally mounted on saidA other plate portion and constructed to provide for slidable movement of said slidable member relative thereto, a pivoted member on said other plate portion having a part disposed in opposing relation to a part of said slidable member when the later is in said detent actuating position, said pivoted member having a second part connected to said detent arm, and outer manually operable means for shifting said slidable member to cause said parts to abut and thereby cause said second part to swing said detent arm and pivotally actuate the detentmeans to disengage the same from said latch device, and inner manually operable means including a second pivoted memberon said other plate portion connected to said slidable member mounting means to swing the same to move said slidablemember from sai-d detent actuating position to a second position in which said parts are disposed out of opposing relation, said firstnarned pivoted member having a second part disposed in position to swing said slidable member from said second position to said detent actuating position upon rotative movement of the latch device.

3. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotallymounted on said one plate portion and engageableowith said latch device for holding the saine in door latching-position, said detent means having a prog'ecting arm, means for pivotally actuating said detent means to. disengage the same from saidlatch device and including a slidable member normally dis.

posed in a detentactuating position, mounting means for said slidable memberl pivotally mounted on said other plate portion and constructed to provide for slidable movement of said slidable member relative thereto, a pivoted member on said other plate portion having a part disposed in opposing relation to a part of said slidable member when the latter is in said detent actuating position, said pivoted member having a second part connected to said detent arm, and outer manually operable means for shifting said slidable member to cause said parts to abut and thereby cause said second part to swing said detent arm and pivotally actuate the detent means to disengage the same from said latch device, inner manually operable means including a second pivoted member on said other plate portion connected to said slidable member mounting means to swing the same to move said slidable member from said detent actuating position to a second position in which said parts are disposed out of opposing relation, an inner manually operable member pivotally mounted on said other plate portion for swinging said first named pivoted member to effect disengagement of said detent means from said latch device, and means on said second pivoted member movable into position to block pivotal movement of said inner manually operable member.

4. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a suppoi-t having Itwo angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, said detent means having a projecting arm, means for pivotally actuating said detent means to disengage the same from said latch device and including a slidable member normally disposed in a detent actuating position, mounting means for said slidable member pivotally mounted on said other plate portion and constructed to provide for slidable movement of said slidable member relative thereto, a pivoted member on said other plate portion having a part disposed in opposing relation to a part of said slidable member when the latter is in said detent actuating position, said pivoted member having a second part connected to said detent arm, outer manually operable means for shifting said slidable member to cause said parts to abut and thereby cause said second part to swing said detent arm and pivotally actuate the detent means to disengage the same from said latch device, inner manually operable means including a second pivoted member on said other plate portion connected to said slidable member, mounting means to swing the same to move said slidable member from said detent actuating position to a second position in which said parts are disposed out of opposing relation, and a common means for pivotally mounting said pivoted members to swing about a common axis.

5. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, said detent means having a projecting arm, means for pivotally actuating said detent means to disengage the same from said latch device and including a slidable member normally disposed in a detent actuating position, mounting means for said slidable member pivotally mounted on said other plate portion and constructed to provide for slidable movement of said slidable member relative thereto, a pivoted member on said other plate portion having a part disposed in opposing relation to a part of said slidable member when the latter-is in said detent actuating position, said pivoted member having a second part connected to said detent arm, outer manually operable means for shifting said slidable member to cause said parts to abut and thereby cause said second part to swing said detent arm and pivotally actuate the detent means to disengage the same from said latch device, inner manually operable means including a second pivoted member on said other plate portion connected to said slidable member mounting means to swing the same to move said slidable member from said detent actuating position to a second position in which said parts are disposed out of opposing relation, an inner manually operable member pivotally mounted on said other plate portion for swinging said first named pivoted member to effect disengagement of said detent means from said latch device, means on said second pivoted member movable into position to block pivotal movement of said inner manually operable member, and a common means for pivotally mounting said pivoted members toswing about a common axis.

6. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a sup- Y port having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, said detent means having an arm extending toward said other plate portion of the support, outer manually operable means including a shiftable actuating member for pivotally 1o actuating said detent means to disengage the ysaine fron said latch device, means pivotally mounting said actuating member on said other plate portion for swinging movement from a first position to a second position, a transmitting member pivotally mounted on said other plate portion and coupled to said detent means arm, said actuating member when in said first position having a part adapted to engage a part on said transmitting member for shifting the latter and when in said second position having said parts free of inter-engagment, inner manually operable means mounted on said other plate portion for swinging said actuating member from said first position to said second position, said transmitting member being movable by said detent means independently of said actuating member upon rotative movement of said latch device, and means on said transmitting member adapted to abut the actuating member when in said second position to restore the latter to said rst position.

7. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device lfor holding the same in door latching position, said detent means having an arm extending toward said other plate portion of the support, outer manually operable means including a shiftable actuating member for pivotally actuating said detent means to disengage the same from said latch device, means pivotally mounting said actuating member on said other plate portion for swinging movement from a first position to a second position, a transmitting member pivotally mounted on said other plate portion and coupled to said detent means arm, said actuating member when in said first position having a part` adapted to engage a part on said transmitting member for shifting the latter and when in said second position having said parts free of inter-engagement, inner manually operable means mounted on said other plate portion for swinging said actuating member from said rst position to said second position, said transmitting member being movable by said detent means independently of said actuating member upon rotative movement of said latch device, said transmitting member having a part normally adapted to abut a part of said actuating member upon said transmitting member being moved by said detent means thereby to swing said actuating member from said second position to said iirst position, said actuating member when disposed in said second position being shiftable to move its said part out of abutting relationship to said transmitting member part.

8. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for.

holding the same in door latching position, said detent means having an arm extending toward said other plate portion of the support, outer manually operable means including a shiftable actuating member for pivotally actuating said detent means to disengage the same from said latch device, means pivotally mounting said actuating member on said other plate portion for swinging movet ment from a first position to a second position, a transmitting member pivotally mounted on said other plate portion and coupled to said detent means arm, said actuating member when in said first position having a part adapted to engage a part on said transmitting member for shifting the latter and when in said second position having said parts free of inter-engagement, inner manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted on said other plate portion for swinging said actuating member from said first position lto said second position, said transmitting member being movable by said detent mea-ns independently of said actuating member upon rotativemovement of said latch device, said transmitting member-having-a-y part normally adapted to` abut a part said actuating member from said second position to said rst position, said actuating member when disposed' in said-second position being shiftable to move its said part out-ofabutting` relationship to saidtransmitting member part, and' a commonV means for pivotally mounting said lever: and transmittingmember to swingabout a common axls.

9. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having twoangularly related plate portions, a rotatable latchv device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on' said one plateportion and engageable with said latch device for-:holding the same in door latching position, outer manually operable means including a carrier member pivotally mounted on said other plate portion for swingingl movement from. a irst position to a second position and vice versaan actuating member mounted on said carrier member for swinging movement therewith from said rstpositionto said second position and vice versa and also for shiftable movement relative thereto, and a transmitting member interposed between said actuating member; and detent means and shiftableV to pivotally actuate saiddetent means to disengage the same from said latch device, inter-engageable means on` said transmitting andactuating members effective to permit shifting of the transmitting member upon actuation of the actuatingzmember when the latter is in said tirst position, inner manually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted on said other plate portion for swinging saidA carrier member and actuatingV member from said rst positionk to said second position and in which position said-outermanually operable means is ineffective to actuate said detent means, said transmitting member being pivotally mounted on said other plate portion andbeing swingable by said detent means upon rotative movement offsaid latch device, said transmitting-member having an arm disposedin position to swing said carrier and'actuating-members from saidi second position to` said first positionk upon said transmitting member being swung by said detentmeans.

10. Ina latch mechanism for a swingingldoor, a support having two angularly related plate portions, a rotatable. latch devicemounted on one. plate portion ot the support, detent means pivotally mounted on saidone plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding thesamein door latchingtpositiom said detent means having an arm extending toward said other plate portion ofthe support, outer manually operable means for pivotally actuating said detent means to disengage the same from said latch device, said outer manually operable means including a transmitting member operativeley coupled to said detent means arm and .also including a shiftable-actuating member on said other plate'portion having a part adapted in the operative position of the actuating member to engage apart on said transmitting'member upon shifting the actuating member and'thereby cause saidy transmitting member to pivotally move the detent means out'of holding relation to said latch device, means.

formounting said actuating member on said other'plate portion for swinging movement from said operative position to an inoperative position in whichsaidv parts arefree of engagement upon. shifting said actuating member, inner manually operable means mountedton said other plate.

portion for'swingingfsaid actuating memberfrom said operative to said inoperative position, saidtransmitting member being movable by said detent means independently of said` actuating member upon rotative movement of said latch device, said transmitting member havingfan arm portion adapted tol engage the actuating member when. in. saidzinoperative position to restore the latter to said :operating position.

11.y Ina latch-mechanism for'a swinging door', a support having'twotangularlyrelated plateportions, arrotatable latch device' mounted on one plate portionV of'thesupport, detent means pivotally-mounted on said one: plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same indoor latching position, said detent means having an arm'extending toward said other plate portion of the support, outer manually operable means for pivotally actuating said detent means to disengage the same from said latch device, said outer manually operable means-including a transmitting member operatively coupled to said detent means arm and also including a shiftable actuating member on said other plate portion having av part adapted in` the operative position of the actuating memberV to engage a part on said transmitting member upon shifting the actuating member and thereby cause said transmitting member to pivotally move the detent means out ot holding relation to said latch device, means for mounting said actuating member on said otherplate portion for swinging movement from said operative position to an inoperative position in which said parts are'freeof engagement upon shifting said actuating member, inner manually operable means mounted on said other plate portion for swinging said actuating member from said operative to said inoperative position, said transmitting member being movable by said detent means independently of said actuating member upon rotative movement of said latch device, said transmitting member having a plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, said detent means having an arm extending toward said other plate portion of 'the support, outer manually operable means' for pivotally actuating said detent means to disengageV the samefrom said latch device, said outer manually operable means including a transmitting member operatively coupled to said detent means arm and also including av shitable actuating member on said other plate portion having a part adapted in the operative position of the actuating member to engage a part on said transmitting member upon shifting the actuating member and thereby cause said transmitting member to pivotally move the detent means out of holding relation to said latch device, means for mounting said actuating member on said other plate portion for swinging movement from said operative position to an inoperative position in which said parts are free of engagement upon shifting said actuating member, inner manually operable means mounted on said other plate portion for swinging said actuating member from said operative to said inoperative position, said transmitting member being movable by said detent means independently of said actuating member upon rotative movement of said latch device and having means adapted to engage said actuating member upon such independent movement to restore said actuating member from sai-d inoperative position to said operative position.

13. in a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having two angnlarly related plate portions, a rotatable latch device mounted on one plate portion of the support, detent means pivotally mounted on said one plate portion and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in door latching position, said detent meanshaving. an arm extending toward said other plate 13 portion of the support, outer manually operable means for pivotally actuating said detent means to disengage the same from said latch device, said outer manually operable means including a transmitting member operatively coupled to said detent means arm and also including a shiftable actuating member on said other plate portion having a part adapted in the operative position of the actuating member to engage a part on said transmitting member upon shifting the actuating member and thereby cause said transmitting member to pivotally move the detent means out of holding relation to said latch device, means for mounting said actuating member on said other plate portion for swinging movement from said operative position to an inoperative position in which said parts are free of engagement upon shifting said actuating member, inner manually operable means mounted on said other plate portion for swinging said actuating member from said operative to said inoperative position, said transmitting member being movable by said detent means independently of said actuating member upon rotative movement of said latch device and having means adapted to engage said actuating member upon such independent movement to swing said actuating member from said inoperative position to said operative position, said actuating member when disposed in said inoperative position being shiftable to move its said part out of abutting relationship to said transmitting member part.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,221,181 Dall Nov. 12, 1940 2,249,018 Marple et al. July 15, 1941 2,641,495 Leslie et al. June 9, 1953 

